engine-number
Holden Kingswood Engine Number
Use this guide to locate the engine number on your Holden Kingswood and line up the right engine-related parts enquiry.
The Holden Kingswood was the mainstream full-size family Holden built in Australia from the HK series of 1968 through the HT, HG, HQ, HJ, HX and HZ series until around 1980, sitting above the base Belmont and below the luxury Premier. It was offered in sedan, wagon, utility and panel van bodies and became one of the definitive Australian cars of its era.
Where to find your Holden engine number
The stamped engine number is on a machined pad on the block. Its location depends on the engine family:
- Inline six-cylinder: on a pad on the right-hand side of the block, above the engine-mount boss.
- V8 (253 / 308, 4.2 / 5.0 litre): on a pad on the left-hand side of the block, above the engine mounting.
- V6 (Buick-derived, Ecotec, Alloytec): on the front left-hand face of the block, below the ignition coil.
- Later V6 and LS V8 models: the build / engine plate sits on the radiator support panel (VT-VZ era) or the passenger-side strut tower (VE / VF era).
You may need to wipe the pad clean to read the stamped number, and on air-conditioned cars the compressor can sit in front of it. Older Holden engines use a capacity-plus-tune prefix (for example 186S or a Q-series V8 code), while modern engines (Ecotec, Alloytec and the LS V8 family) use a GM engine code plus a separate stamped serial.
For the most accurate part match, send us both the engine code or prefix and the full stamped number, along with whether the car is automatic or manual.
On this model
Kingswoods used Holden's own "red motor" inline sixes (149, 161, 173, 186 and 202 cubic inch) and the Holden 253 and 308 cubic inch V8s, so establishing the exact engine is key to getting the right parts. The engine carries a stamped number with an alphabetic prefix that denotes the engine type and tune, followed by the individual unit number; because cars this age have often had engine changes, that stamped number is also how you tell an original engine from a later replacement. Given how frequently these engines were swapped or rebuilt over the decades, do not assume the fitted engine matches the car's original specification. When enquiring about engine parts, quote both the prefix and the full stamped number exactly as it reads on the block, rather than guessing the capacity. If you are unsure how to read the prefix, a clear photo of the stamped pad will let it be checked against known Holden engine codes.
This page also draws on later year-by-year data for Holden Kingswood to cover modern variants.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the engine number on a Holden Kingswood?
It is stamped on a machined pad on the engine block. Inline sixes are on the right side above the engine mount, the 253/308 V8s on the left side above the mount, and the V6 engines on the front left face below the ignition coil. You may need to wipe the pad clean to read it.
What is the difference between an engine prefix and an engine code?
Older Holden engines use a capacity-plus-tune prefix stamped on the block, while modern engines (Ecotec, Alloytec and the LS V8 family) use a GM engine code plus a separate stamped serial.
Do you match engine numbers to parts?
Yes. Send us the engine code or prefix and the full stamped number, plus whether the car is automatic or manual, and we will match the right engine-related part.
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